I was on my way from the corridor to the exit.

Yo!

The person who greeted me as I was looking at the black screen before the phone turned on, was a student of Class 2-B, Ishizaki Daichi, who had a smile plastered on his face. Had he encountered some good news?

I tried to contact you through your cell phone, but there was no response, so I came straight to you.

Sorry about that, my phone happened to run out of battery.

Thats nothing! Need some of your time right now, alright?

Am I going to be threatened?

What, thats an interesting joke. Does a guy who can intimidate you really exist in this school?

Ishizaki responded to my joke with his own.

Dont tell me youre busy after this?

No, Im just about to go back.

Really? Then theres no problem. Come with me!

With a smile that didnt give me any chance to speak, Ishizaki beckoned with his hand and strode forward.

If I watched him go like this, Id lose track of him in the blink of an eye.

Causing a commotion here would only attract everyones attention.

Since I was free, I decided to follow Ishizaki.

But as I turned around the corner, an impossibly large wall appeared suddenly before my eyes.

No, it wasnt a wall. It was Ishizakis classmate, Yamada Albert.

He was wearing sunglasses, and he put his right hand, which had an air of intimidation about it, on my shoulder.

Hey.

Hey.

I wasnt quite sure what was going on, so I just tentatively replied to him with the same word. What on earth was this all about?

The threat which I thought was a joke, actually had a touch of reality to it.

Hi, Ayanokouji-kun.

Next to the wall-sized Albert, Hiyoris figure appeared.

What a rare combination.

Maybe so.

I thought Ryuuen would be here too, but that didnt seem to be the case.

Its not a good idea to talk here, lets go somewhere else.

Go? Go where?

Wellyeah, I havent thought about that yet.

Ishizaki rubbed his left index finger under his nose, laughing sheepishly.

I have a bad feeling about this, so could you let me go?

No matter how I looked at it, I had a feeling of unease, so I asked for their leave.

Whats the matter, youre free, right? I wont let you go back.

Wont let me go back what are you doing?

Albert, who was standing behind me, grabbed me with his immense strength, and wrung me firmly. Then, Hiyori also pulled my arm into her chest. Together the two of them had captured me.

Sorry, Ayanokouji-kun, but were not letting you escape.

Huh?

At the end of the day, this was intimidation, plain and simple.

This joke has already gone too far.

Anyway, it looked like these three were going to take me away from here.

We stand out here a lot. We should move, Ishizaki-kun.

Yeah. So, where to?

Hmm, then how about Ishizaki-kuns room?

Hiyori suggested casually.

Huh? My.my room? No, no, thats a bit! Never, never!

When Ishizaki heard that his room had been suggested, he refused, flustered.

Whats wrong? Are there any inconveniences?

That, thats because, there are various reasons. Even if you asked me, you said that completely out of the blue

We wouldnt mind if your rooms a bit messy, right?

Albert, who was asked for his opinion, slowly nodded.

I can assume that he understood Japanese, right?

He surely needed to use it in exams and lessons, but I wanted to hear him speak Japanese.

Yeah, yeah. Not just a little bit, its extremely messy! Theres nowhere to put your foot! Aiya, what a huge shame!

Dont worry. If you need it, Ill help you clean up.

Nononono! Tissues and stuff, I cant let a girl clean them up!

He couldnt help but blurt out what he had scattered all over his floor.

Tissues? What does that mean?

Hiyori tilted her head in confusion. What was that all about?

Anyway my room is a bit! Yes, thats right, lets go to Alberts room!

Ishizaki changed the topic in a panic.

Right, isnt Alberts room great? Right? Right?

Ishizaki suggested, as if running away from something.

OK.

So he understood Japanese after all. Albert gave his approval with a brief response.

After that, he started moving while carrying me.

ButAm I going to just be carried away like this?

Its okay. Yamada-kun is very strong.

No, that wasnt the problem.

It just felt like wed become unusually conspicuous.

No problem. In a way, its a kind of dissemination for those watching.

After saying that, Hiyori, gently smiling as usual, walked ahead, leading the way.

I see, as expected of Shiina! Great idea, great idea!

What did you want to do by taking me away?

With that question in mind, I was taken to the dormitory.